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I received a postcard in the mail from my urticaria doctor’s office saying:
This is to notify you that Allen Kaplan, MD will be retiring as of December 31, 2007. Please contact your local physician for further recommendations. Dr. Kaplan extends to you his best regards.
This is a major blow to everyone who has urticaria and hasn’t already seen him. Kaplan is The Man when it comes to urticaria. I first saw him in April 2002 and I saw him again in July 2007. When I was there the last time, there was a girl there from Turkey - that’s how good this guy is, people come from all over the world to see him, and I’ve heard that he travels all over the world to see patients, too.
But now he’s retiring. I can certainly see why, he has had a long and distinguished career, and he’s probably well past the age that most people retire. But a doctor can only serve for so long, they have to retire too. When I was there in July there was a med student observing him, but as far as I know there is no replacement. It’s a shame, because I’ve recommended Dr. Kaplan many times over the years, and I know many urticaria sufferers who need his services. I hope they will be able to find relief with their local physicians.
Enjoy your retirement Dr. Kaplan - it is WELL deserved but you will be missed!
Comments
[...] 12/20/07: Please note that Dr. Kaplan is retiring effective [...]
Augh I’m so sorry to hear your doctor is retiring, it would have been nice if they gave you more notice than that too! When I was in NY, my PCP seemed to have randomly disappeared, but I found out through my therapist (who has had other patients with her, so has access to her phone number) that she was pregnant with twins and wasn’t able to work. I never even received a letter, I only found out when I ended up at urgent care with an asthma attack. LOVELY! Not that it was a really major deal, but I had gotten on with her and she knew me and my body quite well.
I also know what it’s like to go all across the US to see a specialist! I came down to DC from NY, now will be going out to Michigan hopefully to get some tests done. There aren’t that many specialists in gastroparesis (stomach paralysis, delayed gastric emptying) and even fewer in small bowel dysmotility or general GI motility disorders. It’s also one of those diseases that doesn’t get diagnosed for years despite dramatic impact it has on people’s lives (because you know, NOT puking when you eat something is kind of nice…)
At any rate, I really hope you find a new specialist, or at least someone willing to carry on with Dr. Kaplan’s plan of attack soon.